McMansion v. McTeardown

'A charming Frank Lloyd Wright inspired 50's rambler' = McTeardown.

Vienna IS McTeardownland! At current count, they are winning against the McMansions. But, don't worry - things will change (insert maniacal laughter).

Enlighten me... what does McDonalds have to do with big stupid houses and small expiring houses... why the McPrefix? And what is the nature of the contest you allude to... it's inevitable that teardowns will be replaced with new construction of the day, so what is the battle besides rezoning?

Personally, I find the term "McMansion" very annoying. It's a term used to belittle anyone who is building a new home (re: our politicians). The term came about in reference to whole neighborhoods of huge million dollar-plus homes that all look alike. Homes built much like fast food a la McDonalds.

But, I would hardly describe new home construction in Vienna as "McMansions" considering most are uniquely built custom homes.

I find more offensive your complete ability to see anything other than status quo. To say the new homes are stupid sounds stupid. Vienna is getting a little bit of "charm" it never, ever had before.

So McMansion means undesireable change as characterized by big new houses?

Well, I doubt the Town Council coined McMansion. And I would have guessed it to mean cheap and fast big goofy houses poorly designed and integrated into neighboring architecture... unhealthy... and, of course, it wouldn't make sense to match new to old in teardownville. But I would not guess it to mean a Bukont or Brehony or Staats or Springview or Commonwealth new house as many of these are relatively nicely done compared to a true McMansion. I suggest the number of these nicer builds may even exceed the McMansions within Vienna. Given all this, I doubt the Town opposes the nice new houses... why should they? Crappy McMansions yes, but they love Bukont's duded up vinyl Victorians... most of them bought one! So I don't really see your McMansion vs. McTeardown class battle nor aesthetic battle, considering a true chintzy McMansion is probably no worse than a dilapadated McTeardown. And McTeardown isn't even sensible coinage! And what battle... teardowns are coming down and new houses are going up and there's nothin' gonna' stop it. Are you fear mongering us?

Big Stupid House is meant to be derisive of housing that is inefficient, wasteful, expensive, and underutilized... similar to those Big Stupid SUVs with one driver in them, except SUVs are far more likely to kill you.

I have no problem with any new home someone wants to build. I do have an issue with terminology created to deride or putdown someone's home simply based on the simple fact that you are not doing the same thing yourself (it always reaks of jealousy to me).

But, what do you care if someone has a "big stupid home" with two people living in it?! It's their money & their life.

Some of us can't/don't want to live in 1950s asbestos housing with old plumbing, lead paint, mold, & mildew which brings on its own host of health problems. This is a more real issue to some people than your "wasteful/inefficient" argument simply because you think big is bad.

I would like to formally nominate Roy Boy for the "Weenie of the Month."

Ohhhh - We Have INDEED stuck a chord here - I have to personally (just for me) say that I HATE the term "McMansion". I do not beleive that Maud coined it - It has been a "clever term" that took root about a decade ago...I AGREE - A "McMasion" was originally meant to apply to those large subdivisions of tract houses, that were all"stamped out the same".

Not really ANYTHING that I see in Vienna....There are a number of careful builders that are doing a GREAT JOB of making a BETTER TOWN...

That being said, there are others who are building "inappropriate houses" for In Town Lots ---Berry and East Streets----You KNOW who you are....

Still- A "McMasion" is a coined term for large tract homes, following the same or similar elevation.

This is not happening in Vienna.

Honk if you love McTOV!

Beep Beep

McMansion is a slang architectural term which first came into use in the United States during the 1980s as a pejorative description and an idiom. It describes a particular style of housing that—as its name suggests—is both large like a mansion and as culturally ubiquitous as McDonald's fast food restaurants.

In addition to ubiquity, almost every reason to poke fun at McDonald's has been applied metaphorically to "McMansions". These criticisms include the deviation from traditional local or regional architectural style, a mass-produced appearance, and perceived negative effects on nature and neighborhoods.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMansion

It has been suggested that their popularity may not be purely based on consumer desires. Adjusted for inflation, in terms of square footage and features, a house in 2006 costs about the same to build as a house in 1970. Therefore, in order to increase profit margins over previous years, builders need to build more expensive houses (more features and square footage) on the same tracts.

It has been suggested that their popularity may not be purely based on consumer desires. Adjusted for inflation, in terms of square footage and features, a house in 2006 costs about the same to build as a house in 1970. Therefore, in order to increase profit margins over previous years, builders need to build more expensive houses (more features and square footage) on the same tracts.

Bingo! That's the STUPID part... people taking out zero whatever mortgages and committing over 50% of their joint income to buy big, high-maintenance houses they don't need so they can feel like what's on TV. DB says developers are not greedy. Everybody is greedy. And some people choose moderation despite modern American culture. Bukont is greedy... and an egomaniac... just look at his unique creations... way over-stated to be considered tasteful architecture and bigger than ever because he's selling in one of the most affluent counties in the country. His Church Street ramps and stairs monstrosity is a ridiculous hodgepodge of tortured geometry that hurts the eye muchless your legs just trying to get in and out of it. Vienna needs a home builder willing to rebuild its modest neighborhoods with modest, efficient, practical homes... tasteful bungalows adapted for our woods and high rainfall.

Well, Town Green, I do agree with you on this one respect - Bukont & his buildings are nuts.

I think you hit it on the head Town Green regarding Bukont's hodgepodge on Church Street. Remember he as well as Paul Layer (who is the architect to the building next door) has no commercial background. They have only been sitting on "the right boards." Therefore they are designing Church Street? Ridiculous. Doesn't Vienna deserve professionalism and not cronyism? This is why Vienna looks like a Toddlers set of building blocks. Everyone is greedy and just getting it up fast with no thought into the future of the Town. If you were to look at the original drawing of Bukont's building with the stairs it was designed differently. But conveniently that went away with no notice. Much as his graffiti wall on his other building was supposed to have some architectural design.

No surprise there... his buildings never feel finished. Take a quick look at his Church Street pile... notice the unpainted fake rafter... the internal structural steel channel poking fully through the exterior facia... oops... and just waiting for pests to move in over the restaurant... the goofy removable front railing baluster to allow hose access to the poorly located fire standpipe... even has a tiny plastic stick-on sign that says 'In Case of Fire - Remove Me!", like that will last long... and that railing is residential grade as it is... the roof lines that will drop water to freeze on the uneven brick deck and stairs below... the exposed sewer line in the garage with loose hanger hardware that will rake your back getting in and out of your car... it's a mess... feels like a mess. His buildings will never look better than when they are first built and they are not built well to be easily maintained, so expect them to fade. And commercial leasing ain't like suckering one-off dreamy-eyed home buyers... he's got to find tenants willing to put up with Church Street access and parking, front door deliveries, the climb into that pile, and all day full on southeast sun exposure through that front window wall. Expect to see it decorated with much bigger signs that say 'Lease Me!'. That restaurant will have to be one heck of a good place to eat if it expects its customers to keep struggling back to the pile.

Ask the delivery drivers how they feel about delivering on Church Street. They are not very happy about the inaccessibility when there is more than one delivery truck..and get a clue if your shopping structure is doing well that is going to happen. And naturally this is all great for pedestrian safety-!! Again no forethought.